Thelesperma subnudum, commonly known as Navajo tea, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found from west central Canada to central United States. It grows in openings in pinyon/juniper or yellow pine forests.
Description Thelesperma subnudum is a perennial herb that typically grows between tall. The cauline leaves are "mostly crowded over proximal 1/4(–1/2) of plant heights". The calyculi are "of 7–9 deltate to lance-linear bractlets 2–4+ mm". There are 0 or 8 ray florets per flower head. The ray laminae are yellow, typically long. The disc corollas are yellow, sometimes with red-brown nerves. The cypselae are long.
It typically blooms from May to September.
Distribution and habitat It is native to Alberta, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
Habitat It grows at elevations of 1000–2900 meters from sea level in openings in pinyon/juniper or yellow pine forests.
Uses The Navajo have used the flower to produce a yellow to orange dye solution for dyeing woolen yarns.SAR School for Advanced Research, , 2016, minutes 10:25–12:11.
Taxonomy Varieties As of July 2023, Plants of the World Online has 2 varieties listed for this taxon: Thelesperma subnudum var. subnudum – west central Canada to central United States Thelesperma subnudum var. maliterrimum S.L.Welsh & N.D.Atwood – Utah
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